Even though the 250-plus people who crowded into a hearing room Wednesday night looked different, most of them shared a mistrust -- a hate, even -- for Shell Oil`s plans to drill for petroleum in the Everglades.

``We shouldn`t even be having this meeting. There shouldn`t be any question that we should not be drilling for oil in the Everglades,`` Hollywood resident Rosalyn Scherf told federal officials at the Greater Fort Lauderdale-Broward County Convention Center.

But they were having the meeting. And it was the last public session on the question before the U.S. Bureau of Land Management decides whether the drilling will be allowed. Agency officials say they are leaning toward saying OK.

A Shell subsidiary wants to sink an exploratory well just north of Alligator Alley about three miles east of the Broward-Collier County line, on land owned by the Miccosukee Indian Tribe. It would be the first time in modern history drilling has been allowed in the Everglades, an ancient marsh that is a key part of South Florida`s drinking water supply.

Shell officials have consistently dismissed fears about the drilling as unfounded, saying they will use the latest drilling techniques. And federal authorities point out that there will be a number of precautions taken, such as a four-foot-high earthen berm around the drilling site to contain any spills.

The man who will make the decision, Robert Abbey of the Bureau of Land Management, said after the hearing he may bring the Environmental Protection Agency into the case.

``I learned a lot,`` Abbey said. ``I learned that a lot of people think we have some weaknesses in the (plan).``

Despite the turnout of hundreds of environmentalists, many were resigned to Abbey approving the drilling.

``This is just another bogus hearing,`` speaker Laurie Shiver told Abbey and other officials. ``Obviously, you`re going to go ahead with your plan.``

Among those against the drilling were representatives of the Broward County Office of Natural Resource Protection, the Broward Natural Resource Protection Advisory Board and the South Florida Regional Planning Council.

Many speakers pointed out that tens of thousands of gallons of oil and salty brine already have been spilled farther west in the Big Cypress Swamp -- in one case soaking soil to a depth of four feet with oil.

Most speakers attacked a draft environmental impact statement prepared for Shell and the land management bureau that concludes allowing the exploratory well would have only minor environmental impact. They said the study ignores the potential harm if oil is discovered, dozens of wells are sunk and eventually a spill occurs.

``This environmental impact statement is nothing but a rubber stamp for Shell,`` Larry Marvet of the Broward Sierra Club said. ``We`re outraged that this important issue -- industrialization of the Everglades -- could be treated so trivially.``

Speakers also pointed out that the Everglades provides much of South Florida`s economic health, attracting more than a million tourists each year.

Of the 49 speakers, two were in favor of drilling. One was Edwin O`Toole of Hollywood, who said he owns land in the Everglades.

The other was Steve Terry of the Miccosukees, who said the tribe will make sure Shell takes enough precautions.

``Members of the Miccosukee Tribe as much as, if not more than, any other citizens of Florida, treasure the Everglades,`` Terry said. ``We are keenly aware ... of our responsibility to act at all times in a prudent manner.``

The person who came dressed as a turtle was Karen Power of Davie, who urged Abbey to reject Shell`s application.

``If they start digging for oil, I`m going to die because I can`t run away as fast as the deer,`` Power said.

COMMENTS

The deadline to comment on Shell`s plans to drill for oil is May 18. Write: